Fury as it’s revealed almost two MILLION foreigners are on benefits as immigration ‘rises without proper control’

6 comments 6 Next ALMOST two million foreigners are on benefits or receiving the state pension, according to shock new research. Around 1.85 million non-British adults received at least one form of welfare support or state pension last year, a think tank found. Around 1.85 million non-British adults received at least one form of welfare support or state pension last year Credit: Alamy Sir Iain Duncan Smith said families will be worried about the findings just as they are being hammered by taxes Advertisement They also estimated that around £23 billion was spent last year on benefits , pensions and child support for foreign nationals. And the total bill is forecast to reach almost £27 billion by 2030, the Centre for Social Justice said. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Sir Iain Duncan Smith , former work and pensions secretary, said families will be worried about the findings just as they are being hammered by taxes . He added: “Britain’s immigration and welfare systems were founded on the expectation that those arriving here should be able to support themselves and their families. READ MORE ON BENEFITS BRITAIN'S NOT WORKING UK spends £1.6TRN on working-age benefits as handouts 'numb' failure BENEFIT OF DOUBT New benefits crackdown rule comes into force for millions across UK today “But at a time when families and businesses are being clobbered with yet more taxes, many will be deeply concerned at the extent to which governments have let unconstrained immigration drive up the welfare bill . “We must urgently now restore contribution and reciprocity to the welfare system while helping the millions of Brits on out-of-work benefits back towards a better future for themselves and their families. We have done this before, we can do it again.” Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “When immigration rises without proper control, the pressure on public services and the welfare system grows.” The analysis indicates that around 1.4 million foreign nationals currently receive working-age benefits. Advertisement Most read in Money FEEL THE BURN The four things you need to do with your money NOW before the Budget CHILD’S PAY Eight side hustles you can do on the school run that pay up to £600 a month INN TROUBLE Premier Inn owner Whitbread sees profits plunge despite selling more rooms RATE RELIEF Major bank set to cut mortgage rates in boost for borrowers & others could too And the number of foreign nationals on Universal Credit has increased by 38 per cent since April 2022 to 1.3 million. Most people who arrive in the UK on visas are initially subject to “no recourse to public funds”. However, access can expand after migrants secure indefinite leave to remain, through exemptions and routes like the EU Settlement Scheme. It comes as another think tank found a shocking 16 per cent of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients do not actually need it. The Resolution Foundation found one-in-six working-age PIP recipients report no additional costs linked to their disability and should not receive the cash support. Advertisement Lindsay Judge, Research Director at the foundation, said: “The current system is failing on several fronts – claimants don’t trust it, awards don’t fully reflect the nature of disability today, and spending is rising unsustainably.” A Government spokesperson said they did not “recognise” the CSJ figures which they said were based on a “small-sample survey”. They added: “Under this government, net migration is down by 82 per cent from its 2023 peak, and only people with eligible immigration status can claim taxpayer-funded benefits, of which around half of those claiming Universal Credit are in work. “We have also set out proposals which will double the standard qualifying period to 10 years for most migrants, with shorter routes for those who contribute most to the UK.” 6 comments 6